Sri Lanka took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series against New Zealand, thanks to Kusal Mendis‘ patient 74 as the hosts beat visitors by three wickets under the DLS method with six balls remaining in the rain-hit second ODI.
The final game will also be played at Pallekele on Tuesday. Sri Lanka won the first one-day international by 45 runs — also by DLS — after rain disrupted that game at Dambulla.
It was Sri Lanka’s fifth ODI series win at home in 2024 after it had beaten Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, India and West Indies. Sri Lanka couldn’t qualify for next year’s Champions Trophy after finishing ninth at last year’s 50-over World Cup in India, but has since then lost just one ODI series in Bangladesh while winning five at home.